Tag Archives: spyvideo

Here are the latest spyshots of the next generation F80 BMW M3 Sedan undergoing winter testing in Sweden.

Compared to the previous spyshots, the M3 prototype has lost a some camouflage – showing the rear light clusters as it will look when the car enters production some time this year.

The engine is a topic for much rumor and is expected to be a 3.3l V6 Twin Turbo with an electronic KERS device which is the apparent third turbocharger. We expect the power to be around 450hp with also additional chassis and engine weight reduction we expect this to be the fastest M3 yet.

Expect a public debut sometime after summer perhaps at the Frankfurt IAA in Production Concept form.

Share this:

Like this:

Here is a fantastic little insight to the development of the flagship Camaro undertaking handling development on the Nordschleife in Germany.

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is the highest-performing production Camaro of all time.

Built to be track-capable right from the showroom, and tested on some of the most rigorous tracks around the world, including the Nürburgring, where it clocked in at 7:41.27. This is the car every engineer dreams about building. Every racer dreams about tearing around the track.

The 580-horsepower, 556 lb.-ft. of torque, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine can be mated to a Tremec® 6-speed manual (MG9) or HydraMatic® 6L90 automatic transmission. This aluminum-block engine is based on GM’s legendary small block V8 architecture and features an intercooled supercharger system and premium heat-resistant aluminum alloy cylinder heads.

Enjoy the Video and the Spyshots Taken on this very development cycle.562832|100562836|100562839|100562842|100562845|100562848|100562851|100562854|100562857|100562860|100562863|100562866|100562869|100562872|100562875|100562878|100562881|100

Originally named as the MegaCity concept, the BMW i3 will be the first vehicle produced under the i brand when it arrives next year. Two structures make up both the i3 and i8’s LifeDrive architecture – predictably, the Life aand Drive modules.

As its name would suggest, the Life part of the equation is what contains the driver and passengers, and the platforms have been individually developed for each model. In the case of the i3, a lightweight body structure is made up of a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, with the Drive module mounted underneath, obviating the need for a transmission tunnel and allowing BMW to install two bench seats for four occupants in the front and back while providing 200 liters (7.06 cubic-feet) of storage.

Underneath that lightweight body lies the Drive system, comprised of the suspension, battery and drivetrain, along with structural and safety components. A liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery back spans the undercarriage and supplies juice to an electric motor mounted directly above the rear-drive axle. Yup, this a rear-wheel-drive EV hatchback, with the motor putting out 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque through a single-speed gearbox. BMW claims the i3 can reach an electronically limited top speed of 93 miles per hour and make the run from 0-60 in under eight seconds.

An available PRO ECO mode tweaks the throttle and electronics to boost efficiency, and braking regeneration feeds kinetic energy back into the battery pack. Remarkably, BMW also claims that you can charge the battery back to full in six hours using a standard power socket and the i3’s batteries can get to 80 percent in one hour using a high-speed charger (we’ll be getting more details on both very soon).

i8 – Vision Concept

This car was first released in 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show as the Vision Concept and was spied in Northern Sweden in 2010-2011 (Yellow Snow Edition)

Unlike the standard i3, the i8 will be a plug-in hybrid, with a turbocharged, 1.5-liter three-cylinder powerplant mounted up front and putting out 220 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the electric motor, the run from 0-60 mph is claimed to blow by in under five seconds, with fuel consumption estimated at three liters per 100 kilometers and seven liters per 100 clicks when driven like… well, a BMW.

The three-pot works in tandem with a lithium-ion battery pack and front-mounted electric motor pulled from the i3 and driving the front wheels, allowing an electric-only range of up to 20 miles on a charge. Put both systems together and you’ve got a front-wheel-drive vehicle for maximum efficiency, a rear-driver for maximum fun and all-wheel drive for maximum grip. And if that isn’t enticing enough, the i8 has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

Lamborghini are not satisfied in pulling the shroud off the Aventador LP700-4 at the Geneva Motor Show, now there has been a video release/leak from the Italian bull-works driving in the winter landscape in Sweden.

With a curb weight of just 1575 kg (3,472 pounds), that’s all good for a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 2.9 seconds, as we had previously reported. Top speed is 350 km/h (217 mph).

The engine is coupled to a 7-speed independent shift rod transmission with shift times of just 50 milliseconds. The model also features a Haldex all-wheel drive system.

Expect another video or two before the Geneva Motorshow in two weeks time.